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Shiites, Shiism, and Islam (part 1 of 2)

Description: A glimpse of how Shiites and Shiism differ from Islam,
with a few demonstrative examples in matters of creed. Part One: Belief in God.
By IslamReligion.com
Published on 29 Jan 2007 - Last modified on 08 May 2014
Viewed: 45331 (daily average: 15) - Rating: 2.8 out of 5 - Rated by: 61Printed: 1168 - Emailed: 31 - Commented on: 5 Category: Articles
> Current Issues
> Sects Attributed to Islam

One of the most perplexing scenarios to non-Muslims and
new Muslims alike is the division they may see between Shiites and Sunni
Muslims. Some tend to become confused when they see that each group claims to
be following the true Islam. To truly understand this subject to the fullest,
one must delve into the early history of Islam and see under what circumstances
this division actually began, a study far from possible for most people. Another
way, much more in the scope of the average person, is to analyze which group is
true to the teachings of Islam, a simple comparison may be done between Sunni
and Shiite beliefs and practices in relation to textual evidence, the Quran –
the revealed word of God, and the Sunnah – or teachings of Prophet Muhammad, may
the mercy and blessings of God be upon him.

Many times, people see this division to be a major one,
while the fact remains that Shiites only make up a mere 8 percent of the Muslim
population, reaching even this figure after taking hold of certain important
political regions in history. Not a division, one can confidently say that the
Shiites are but one of the various splinter groups which left the pure
teachings of traditional Islam. Sunnis, on the other hand, are not a splinter
group, but merely name themselves as such to differentiate themselves from the
Shiites and other deviant sects.

The word “Sunni” itself comes from the term “Sunnah”,
explained earlier to be the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, for they are strict
in abiding by these teachings without any introductions, interpolations, or omissions.
The word Shiite (Shi’a in Arabic) means a “party”, “sect”, “supporters” or a “group
of like minded individuals”. God says in the Quran addressing His Prophet,
Muhammad:

“Verily, those who divide their religion and break up into
sects (Shi’a), you have no concern in them in the least. Their affair is only
with Allah, Who then will tell them what they used to do.” (Quran 6:159)

Although the specific groups called the Shiites is not
what is directly intended in this verse, it is inclusive of them.

When one studies a bit of history, they will see that
the term Shiite was first used amongst the Muslims in regards to a political
issue over which the Muslims varied, 37 years after the death of the Prophet. Although
the Shiites claim that their origin lies in that scenario, the actual term Shiite
being used to denote this specific sect actually occurred much later in history.
In either case, it is clear that the term was unheard of during the time of the
Prophet, and thus we can say that the Shiites were a group which appeared after
the death of the Prophet.

The Shrine of the
Zoroastrian, Abu Lu’lu’ah, in Kashan, Iran, venerated by Shiites

Over the long evolution of Shiite thought, they
incorporated many foreign concepts into their faith. Starting as a political
opinion which favored some views of Ali, the cousin of the Prophet, over some
other companions, it became a sect purporting strange ideas foreign to Islam. This
was due mainly to the fact that this ideology was mainly espoused by people in
areas far from the centers of Islamic learning, namely Persia, those who were
either new to Islam, had either converted to Islam nominally, and were living
in areas where a large percentage of people remained upon their previous
religions. Thus the Shiites became fertile soil to the introduction of foreign
ideas, which they struggled to incorporate into some aspects and beliefs maintained
by Islam, resulting in a sect composed of ideas stemming from Judaism,
Zoroastrianism and Islam. Not strange is it then that we see that one of the
most important shrines in Shiism visited by many Shiites is that of Abu Lu’lu’ah,
a Zoroastrian who died after the Caliphate of Umar, located in the city of Kashan
in present day Iran. Muhammad Ali Mu’zi, an Iranian Shiite researcher in France, stated:

“The basic
fundamentals of the Zoroastrian religion has entered into Shiaism even in some
minute issues. …And this relationship marked the brotherhood between Shiaism
and the ancient Magian Iran.”[1]

We will now take a brief look at Shiism from just one
aspect, that of beliefs. From these few examples, one will clearly see how
different it truly is from the religion of Islam brought by Prophet Muhammad.

There are various articles of faith in Islam, and from
them branch other beliefs which must be held by all who attribute themselves to
Islam. They are as mentioned in the verse:

“…but piety is that one has firm belief in God, the Last Day,
the angels, the scriptures and the Prophets…” (Quran 2:177)

This is also mentioned in a statement of the Prophet, may
the mercy and blessings of God be upon him:

“Faith is that you believe in God, the angels, the scriptures,
the Prophets, the Last Day...” (Saheeh Muslim)

This short discourse will merely touch on some of these
various aspects of faith, and mention just some of the beliefs of the Shiites and
how they differ from Islam.

Belief in God

The proper belief about God, or creed is the most
important aspect of the religion of Islam. During the first 13 years of Muhammad’s
Prophethood, he corrected people’s beliefs about God, warning them against
calling to others besides God, whether angels, prophets, saints, martyrs,
trees, stones, stars, or idols. He clarified that only God alone, the One who
created them was to be worshipped. Very few legislations and acts of worship
were revealed for this period. The majority of the Quran itself calls to this
belief. God says in the Quran that calling to others besides Him is a sin
worthy of eternal damnation in Hellfire:

“Verily, whosoever sets up partners in worship with Allah,
then Allah has forbidden Paradise for him, and the Fire will be his abode.”
(Quran 5:72)

This is an uncompromising belief in Islam, and is the
basis from which one enters the fold of Islam. We find, however, that Shiites
believe in the veneration of others besides God. Homage is to be paid to great
saints and martyrs, such as Ali, Hussein, Fatimah, their Imams, and they are
directly called out to in times of need. They believe that they can answer
their calls as well as intervene for them with God, a belief that according to
Islam is clear disbelief[2].
God says:

“Is not He (God) Who responds to the distressed one, when he
calls Him, and Who removes the evil.” (Quran 27:62)

Another important tenet which Shiism clearly violates is
the concept that God Alone administers the affairs of the universe, and it is
He alone who knows the Unseen. Shiism attributes these powers to their leaders,
called Imams, and places them in a position higher than the Prophets and
angels. God says:

“Say: ‘None in the heavens and the earth knows the unseen
except Allah, nor can they perceive when they shall be resurrected.” (Quran 27:65)

“And among His Signs is that He shows you the lightning, by
way of fear and hope, and He sends down water (rain) from the sky, and
therewith revives the earth after its death. Verily, in that are indeed signs
for a people who understand.” (Quran 30:24)

The Shiites give many of these attributes to their Imams.
Some of them even attribute lightning to be caused by them[3].

In authoritative Shiite texts, its states:

“The Imams have knowledge of whatever occurred in the
past and whatever will happen in the future, and nothing is concealed from them.”
(Al-Kulaini, Al-Kaafi, p.260)

“The Imams have knowledge of all the revealed books,
regardless of the languages in which they were revealed” (Ibid, p.227)

“The Imams know when they will die, and they do not die
except by their own choice” (Ibid, p.258)

“All of the earth belongs to the Imams.” (Ibid, p.407)

There are many aspects of faith in Shiism that oppose
Islam and which render a person out of its fold. Due to this reason, Muslims
do not consider Shiism to represent Islam, but rather believe it to contradict
the very basics of Islamic teachings.

[2]Biha’r Al-Anwa’r, Al-Majlisi. An example of such preposterous beliefs
can be found in the following statements of one of their Imams, or leaders:

“When prophet Noah (Peace be upon him) was about to
drown in the flooding waters, he invoked God Almighty by our (i.e. the names of
the Imams) names. Hence God Almighty came to his rescue. When Prophet Abraham
(Peace be upon him) was thrown into the scorching fire, he prayed to God
through our names, and God Almighty ordered the fire to be cool and a means of
safety for him [Abraham]. When prophet Moses (Peace be upon him) struck the Sea
with his rod in quest of a path, he invoked God with respect to our names and
God made the sea dry out. Finally when the Jews plotted to kill Jesus (Peace be
upon him), he supplicated to God by mentioning our names and was rescued from
death. God eventually raised him up.” (Wasa’il As-Sheea, 4/1143)

Shiites, Shiism, and Islam (part 2 of 2)

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Description: A glimpse of how Shiites and Shiism differ from Islam,
with a few demonstrative examples in matters of creed. Part Two: The Testimony
or Declaration of Faith, the previous Scriptures, the Quran, and the Prophets.
A religion based upon the succession of Imams.
By IslamReligion.com
Published on 05 Feb 2007 - Last modified on 12 May 2014
Viewed: 25611 (daily average: 9) - Rating: 3.3 out of 5 - Rated by: 66Printed: 1038 - Emailed: 33 - Commented on: 1 Category: Articles
> Current Issues
> Sects Attributed to Islam

The Shahaadah

Shiism even differs with true Islam in the first and
most important pillar of Islam and faith, called the Shahaadah, the
testimony one gives upon affirming their faith in Islam, that none deserves
worship but God, and that Muhammad is His slave and messenger (laa ilaaha
ill-Allah). This testimony is the most important aspect of Islam, and the
whole religion is built upon it, and embodies this unique and total monotheism
and belief in God. So important is it that the Prophet pleaded to his uncle who
was on his deathbed to testify:

“O uncle! Say ‘laa ilaaha ill-Allah,’ a
phrase for which I will plead on your behalf in front of God.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)

His uncle did not say this testimony due to his fear of
what people would say about changing the religion of his forefathers upon death.
He died, and the Prophet was informed by revelation that he was among the
people of Hell.

Point being, this phrase and what it entails is so important
that the Prophet made it a means of everlasting life in Paradise. He said:

Thus is this phrase considered the first pillar of Islam,
the very statement that rendered one a believer, gives him an opportunity to
enter Paradise!

The Shiites, however, have a different ‘testimony of
faith’. They not only negate it meanings, as shown in the previous articles by
associating others with God, but they have also added certain principles
nowhere to be found in authentic texts. Their shahaadah comprises of
the statement: “none deserves worship but God, and that Muhammad is His slave
and messenger, and Ali is His beloved and chosen one, and successor to the
Prophet.”[1]

This is due to the extremism they have in regards to the
cousin of Prophet Muhammad, Ali, to whom they claim their origin. The Shiites
even claim that the succession of Ali was mentioned in all of the scriptures
revealed to the previous prophets[2]. They
claim that all will be asked about the succession of Ali on the Day of Judgment[3],
and that if anyone believes differently, they are considered polytheists[4].
Although Ali was known to be one of the most pious of the companions of the
Prophet, in no narration can we find that Prophet Muhammad ever mentioned his succession
in rule. Actually even when we look at early Shiite works, they themselves
attribute this belief to Abdullah ibn Saba’, a renegade who claimed Islam and
plotted against the Caliph Uthman, and also claimed that Ali was God Himself[5].
Thus it is clear that these beliefs are all innovations never preached by
Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him.

Belief in the Scriptures

God mentions in the Quran that He revealed Scriptures to
the Prophets which they taught and recited to their people. Some of these Prophets
and Scriptures are mentioned in the Quran:

Say, “We believe in Allah and that which has been sent down to
us and that which has been sent down to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and to
the tribes, and that which has been given to Moses and Jesus, and that which
has been given to the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between
any of them, and to Him we have submitted (in Islam).” (Quran 2:136)

“It is He (God) Who has sent down the Book to you with truth,
confirming what came before it. And He sent down the Torah and the Gospel.”
(Quran 3:3)

It was the Prophets who received revelation, and due to
the fact that Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, was the
last prophet, there will be no other Scriptures revealed after the revelation
of the Quran. The Shiites however, believe that there was a scripture revealed
after the Quran before the death of the Prophet, which they call the ‘Tablet of
Fatimah’. They claim, that in it were the names of all those who were to be
their Imams in the future[6].

They invented these ideas due to the fact that they
could not find any verses in the Quran which they could use to defend their
views. They did not cease at this, but also went on to directly challenge the
authenticity of the Quran by stating that its has not been preserved[7],
and that the Quran today is incomplete, and that the complete version is with
their 12thImam who has been in hiding for the past 900 years
in ‘the cave’. They believe that when he emerges he will bring forth the
complete version[8]. This, as should be clear to
all, is in direct opposition to the teachings of Islam, as God clearly states
that the Quran is under the direct protection of God:

“The Chapter of
Succession”. On both sides is a translation in Persian.

“Verily it is We Who have sent down the Reminder and surely,
We will guard it (from corruption)” (Quran 15:9)

The Shiites assert that the existing Quran must have
been altered, since there is no reference to any of their strayed beliefs in it.
One of the first to explicitly state this view was Mirza Hussein Muhammad Taqiy
An-Noori At-Tabrasi (d. 1320 AH) in his book The Final Verdict on the
Distortion of the Book of the Lord of Lords[9].

The Shiites became so extreme in their beliefs, that
they even attempted to insert chapters about Ali, may God be pleased with him, in
the Quran, since they could not find any clear texts. One of them is what they
called “The Chapter of Succession”.

Belief in the Prophets

As mentioned earlier, Islam teaches that the Prophets
were the best of humanity, specifically chosen by God due to their excellent
qualities specifically to preach the message of God to humanity. God says in
the Quran:

“We sent no messenger except to be obeyed, by Allah’s leave…”(Quran
4:64)

The Shiites, however believe that their Imams are
better than the prophets[10], and that some prophets were
highly praised only due to their love of the Imams[11].

If one was to mention all the beliefs of the Shiites in
which they have opposed the teachings of Islam, it would definitely need many
volumes to do so. It should be clear, however, from this short discourse that
the beliefs purported by Shiism has no basis in any of the teachings of Islam,
but rather that it is a conglomeration of foreign beliefs evolved over a period
of time, all of which revolve around extremist views concerning the leadership
of certain favored candidates, known as their Imams. A religion which
teaches the worship of God alone and living a life taught by God’s prophets, a
message preached by all prophets, has for them become a life and existence
solely based upon love of Ali and affirming his and their Imam’s claim to
leadership, struggling to find ways to fit into Islamic texts by addition,
interpolation, or misrepresentation. Creation comes into being, Prophets are sent
and Scriptures are revealed, all for the purpose of succession of Ali and the
latter Imams[12],
and even on the Day of Judgment, it will be their Imams, not God, who
will judge people[13]. It
is no matter to wonder, then, what the basis of entering Heaven or Hell will be
according to Shiism.

A religion based upon a claimed love of the family of
Prophet Muhammad has lead them to beliefs contradicting the very essence of the
message brought by him, the message of Islam.